As of October 17, 2005, a “personal finance education” class is now a federal mandate for all chapter 13 filers. The Trustee’s office has developed a Debtor Education class to fit that requirement. The class,

-Must be received from a provider approved by the United States Trustee

-Must be at least two hours in length

-Must address certain financial topics and concepts as directed by the United States Trustee

-Must be completed in order to receive a discharge

Debtor Testimonials:

The budget part of the debtor education really made an impression. I stuck to that budget for the past 5 years. I am so used to the budget that now that I have completed, the amount of my bankruptcy payment will be going into an account for my retirement. I feel 1000% better.

Outstanding Class!

I woke up this morning throwing a hissy fit because I did not want to come today, but I was very surprised. The class was very informative and I learned a lot. It left me wanting to learn even more.

Thank you for your humor and making this experience more real with your personal examples.

This class was fantastic and very helpful!

Great course! Thank you for making it free through my Trustee. I can imagine a course of this caliber would cost $$ to attend. I’m very encouraged that our family can get through these next several years and come out debt free and financially wiser.

I felt at ease and not embarrassed.

The Trustee’s office provides you with 2 options to take this class.

You may choose either one of the options below, then please read and follow the instructions provided.

You may take the class on the morning of your scheduled 341 hearing.

You may take the class on a Trustee scheduled Saturday (see below for dates offered).

Many people feel that filing for bankruptcy is a “bad” financial decision that means giving up on future goals. The truth is that filing for bankruptcy is usually a “good” financial decision that enables people to achieve their future goals by giving them a “fresh start” and helping them get back on track.

Elizabeth Warren, a Harvard law school professor and bankruptcy expert, has found that for every family that files for bankruptcy, there are seven more who should. So, the first thing we would like to say to you is, “Congratulations on making a good financial decision.”

We also want you to know that if you have never been taught about handling your personal finances, you are not alone. In fact, in our own study of 150 filers, only one person had ever had any type of instruction in personal finance. What is alarming about this is that 59% of these filers had more than a high school education.

We know our educational system is missing something that is vitally important to each person’s quality of life and future … how to manage money and make sound financial decisions. We’d like to help with this class. We are hopeful that you will use this information in your own life and share it with those you love.

This class is intended to help you be successful throughout your bankruptcy and beyond. It is about helping you move toward your future goals, whatever they may be. This class is about you!

Additional Debtor Education Resources

The Trustee’s office has compiled information regarding financial management that we think could be beneficial for you! The following topics are not covered specifically in the required Debtor Education class mentioned above, but feel free to browse through these links and take advantage of them to further your learning experience!